What size air compressor do I need for laser engraving?

Many customers will ask why air compressor for laser cutting machine, then how to choose the best air compressor for laser cutting, this article hopes to help you.

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Working principle of laser cutting machine

Laser cutting machines require a pressurized gas source as power when working. Commonly used auxiliary gases include oxygen, nitrogen, compressed air, and sometimes argon. According to the gas pressure, it can be divided into high-pressure gas and low-pressure gas.

working principle of laser cutting machine

With the demand for cutting plate thickness and efficiency, the pressure of compressed air has also developed from the previous 1.25MPa ~ 1.3MPa to a higher pressure, even reaching 2.0MPa ~ 3.0MPa. Currently, 1.6MPa compressed gas is mainly used in the market.

Why do we need an air compressor for laser cutting?

• An air compressor (also called an air compressor) can provide clean, dry and stable air to improve the quality and effect of cutting;
• The compressed air provided by the air compressor provides power to stabilize the workbench;
• Purge and clean the optical system and remove debris. Whether it is the impact of moisture, dust and impurities in the atmosphere on the accuracy of laser cutting, or the pollution of oil stains on the laser machine lens;

An air compressor is essential. The air compressor used for laser cutting must be deoiled and dewatered, and the quality of compressed air is also very high.

Importance of laser cutter air assist

The importance of air assist for laser cutter is its ability to improve cutting and engraving quality while ensuring machine and operator safety.

• Air assist helps remove debris and fumes generated during cutting or engraving, preventing them from interfering with the path of the laser beam. This results in a cleaner cut, less charring, and improved engraving detail.
• The air assist pump for laser cutter helps cool the material and laser lens, minimizing the risk of thermal damage and extending the life of the equipment.

Incorporating air assist into your laser cutter setup is critical to achieving optimal performance, maintaining safety standards and extending machine life.

air compressor for laser cutting machine

Air Compressor for Fiber Laser Cutting Machine Type

Integrated air compressor (screw air compressor) integrates components such as air compressor, refrigeration dryer, cylinder and gas storage tank into a single frame;

Split air compressors separates the compressor main unit and the gas storage tank and connects them through pipelines to form a complete compressor system.

Integrated VS split laser air compressor

Structure

Integrated air compressor: compact structure and small size, suitable for places with small space.

Split air compressor: The structure is relatively large and requires special space for storage.

Scenes to be used

Integrated air compressor: suitable for places with small spaces, such as maintenance workshops, car repair stations, etc. Due to its compact structure and easy maintenance, integrated air compressors are commonly used in maintenance workshops and other maintenance industries.

Split air compressor: It is of higher grade and requires special space for storage and use. It is mostly used in industries that require high voltage stability and long-term continuous use, such as chemical plants, electronics The capacity of the gas tank can be selected as needed.

Remove moisture

The water removal capability of the integrated air compressor is relatively weak, and careful drainage is required to ensure its normal operation.

Split air compressors are equipped with more professional water removal equipment and have a stronger ability to remove moisture.

Repair:

Due to its compact structure, the integrated air compressor is more convenient and flexible to maintain, but it has many connecting parts that are more complicated to maintain.

Split air compressors are relatively fixed and more stable, and more difficult to maintain, but they are more suitable for sending large-capacity gas compression.

laser air assisted compressor

What kind of laser air assisted compressor do you need?

CO2 laser cutting machine

The power of CO2 laser cutting machines is generally between 100W-W, and the air compressor should be selected according to actual production needs.

• 100W-200W Co2 laser cutting machine is suitable for an air compressor of about 1.5 horsepower;
• 200W-400W Co2 laser cutting machine requires an air compressor with a power of 2.2-3.0 horsepower;
• 400W-600W CO2 laser cutting machine requires an air compressor with a power of 3.0-5.5 horsepower;
• Co2 laser cutting machines with a power of more than 600W need to use an air compressor with a power of more than 7.5-10 horsepower.

Fiber laser cutting machine

The power of fiber laser cutting machines are generally between 300W-W, and the air compressor should be selected according to actual production needs.

• 300W-800W fiber laser cutting machine is suitable for 2.2-3 horsepower air compressor;
• 800W-W fiber laser cutting machine requires an air compressor with a power of more than 5.5 horsepower;
• W-W fiber laser cutting machine requires an air compressor with more than 10 horsepower.

Laser cutting machines of different powers require the selection of air compressors of different powers. Adequate air pressure and gas production are the keys to selecting an air compressor, and quality is also a very important factor.

12kw 15kw best air compressor for laser cutting

How to choose best air compressor for laser cutting

Exhaust volume

The air compressor needs to provide a stable air pressure output to ensure that the pressure of the gas output is constant and to ensure the stability and continuity of the air pressure during the cutting process.

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When selecting an laser air assist compressor, it is necessary to choose the appropriate pressure level according to the air pressure output required for laser cutting to avoid unstable cutting quality and low efficiency due to unstable air pressure output.

It ensures air pressure output while meeting high-flow gas output requirements. Its exhaust volume and flow rate need to be considered to ensure that it can meet the gas flow requirements required for laser cutting.

Choose an air compressor that is larger than If the exhaust volume of the air compressor is too large, much larger than the actual demand, even if the air compressor has frequency conversion adjustment, it may cause excess air supply.

In order to maintain a stable air supply pressure, the air compressor has to start running once the air consumption continues. Such frequent start-run-sleep-start-run-sleep can seriously cause the lubricating oil in the oil and gas separator to produce bubbles and emulsification, which will shorten the life of the air compressor and cause excessive oil content in the exhaust port. high.

Pressure

But if the laser power is not high enough, no matter how high the pressure is, it will not help. After all, the laser power is high enough to melt the cutting material faster.

Compressed air quality

The gas used in laser cutting is usually a high-purity gas, and the quality of the gas directly affects the quality of the cutting effect.

Compressed air contains water mist and oil. If it is not treated cleanly and high-pressure is sprayed onto the protective mirror of the laser cutting head, it will seriously affect the transmission of the laser beam, disperse the focus, cause the product to be cut through, and produce waste products.

Special products launched for laser cutting machines. Usually, the micro-oil twin-screw and post-processing equipment are installed together to form a complete air source system, which we call a four-in-one laser cutting special air compressor.

Take carbon steel as an example of the criteria for selecting an air compressor for laser cutting:

Laser Cutting Machine PowerAir Compressor SpecificationRecommended Cutting Thickness (Carbon Steel)Less than 1.5kw11kw 16kg2mmLess than 3kw15kw 16kg4mmLess than 6kw15kw 16kg (High Volume)6mmLess than 10kw22kw 16kg8mm12-15kw22/37kw 20kg10-12mm

Reliable performance and stability

The air compressor needs to have reliable performance and stability to ensure the continuity and stability of air pressure output during the cutting process, and to avoid reduction in cutting quality and efficiency caused by air compressor failure.

When purchasing an air compressor, choose according to actual needs, and choose a factory with a good brand reputation and perfect after-sales services.

Im currently in the process of building my first DIY 90 watt laser cutter. Which is a fun project since I have near zero experience with laser cutting. If some find it interesting of course Im happy to share my progress pictures.

Anyway, Im currently researching my options for air assist. Of course I could just buy a standard Cloudray pump, but as most of you know, the results when using a real compressor are usually much better.

Unfortunately I dont have a lot of space for a huge compressor. And since it will be used in a room which is directly connected to the house, it cant make a lot of noise. So these restrictions realllly limit my options.

I found this nice compact compressor: Senco AC Olievrije Stille compressor

But I have no idea if these specs will work for using it with a laser cutter. The thing Im most worried about is the volume: 5 liters. Is this an option? Or do I need a much bigger tank?

Can anyone give me some specs I should keep in mind when selecting a compressor?

Or is it smarter to go for the standard Cloudray pump and upgrade later?

Thanks for all your help!

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Laser Air Compressor. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.